United States: CFWIJ welcomes Andrea Sahouri’s acquittal

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March 10, 2021, Des Moines- Andrea Sahouri was acquitted today after standing trial for covering a Black Lives Matter demonstration in May 2020. At the time of arrest, and during court proceedings Sahouri claimed that she was physically assaulted and arrested by the police, despite clarifying multiple times that she was a journalist. Sahouri’s release was much welcomed by the international community.
Andrea Sahouri was arrested while covering the Black Lives Matter protest at Merle Hay Mall on May 31, for the Des Moines Register. The police argued that Sahouri did not have her press credentials at the time of her arrest, and she was charged with “failure to disperse” and “interfering with official acts”. Despite her employer organization, Des Moines Register, publicly coming out in support, and her editor, Carol Hunter, clarifying that Sahouri had forgotten her press badge in the car she took to get to the location, the judge refused to dismiss the charges against her. There was uproar over the fact that not only did Sahouri have to face police brutality, but would also have to defend herself in court over it. Many viewed it as a breach of civil liberties.

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council disagreed, and in a statement reminded its audience that “All Iowans should be troubled by this abuse of prosecutorial discretion… The Founding Fathers wrote the First Amendment for this very purpose — to allow the media to scrutinize the actions of law officers.”

Amnesty rights also registered its protest, and argued that "treating media work as a crime is a human rights violation."

Finally, earlier today, after a three-day trial, the jury declared Sahouri not guilty. Her then-partner, Spenser Robnett, who faced the same charges was also released. The decision was much welcomed by civil rights groups. 

Upon her release, Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said that, “The First Amendment clearly protects the rights of journalists to report on protests and demonstrations, and today’s decision upholds those essential protections. No journalist should be arrested or prosecuted simply for doing their job and working to bring important information to their communities.”

The sentiment was shared by Denise Bell, researcher at Amnesty International USA, who said, “Journalists must be able to report on scenes of protest without fear of retribution. The right of the media to do their work is essential to the right of freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly.”

Andrea, too, expressed much relief at the jury announcing the judgment in her favour, and expressed gratitude towards all the support she received from around the world. “The jury did the right thing by upholding freedom of the press and a just democracy. I’m grateful for them, as well as the support I’ve received from every corner of the world,” she said. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is glad that all charges against Andrea Sahouri were dismissed, however we maintain that she should not have stood trial at all. The culture of violence in the American police system is condemnable and requires thorough institutional reform.